Music-leaf turner.



J. P. SAUERWALD.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1914.

1,164,874. Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I. 9

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J. P. SAUERWALD.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED APR-8.1914.

1,164,874. Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

2 SH EETSSHEET 2.

95% 8% Jb/zmZUkzw/wakZ JOHN P. SAUERWALD, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

Application filed April 8, 1914. Serial No. 830,401.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN P. SAUERWALD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Music-Leaf Turners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved music rack, and particularly to a device of this character provided with mechanism for turning over the leaves or sheets of the music.

The invention has for an object to provide a device of this character with a clamp which is relatively wide so as to engage the edge of the leaf or sheet of music for a considerable distance so as to support the sheet and prevent the same from falling or bending over, and a device wherein the mecha nism for operating the clamp to turn the sheet is located centrally of the rack, thus eliminating all projections or sharp corners which are liable to catch in surrounding objects.

Another object of the invention is to provide a music leaf turner of very simple construction, which is strong and durable, which may be economically manufactured, and a device which is practical and adapted to all conditions and uses required of such devices.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following detail description of the present embodiment of the invention, the same being shown in the accompanying drawings in which,-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved music leaf turner, having the detachable shelf removed and showing in dotted lines a sheet of music in position to be turned. Fig. 2 is a top edge view of the right hand end of the device in position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail enlarged view of the upper side of the device showing the clip applied thereto. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the music leaf turner having a book applied thereto and showing the device in position after turning one of the pages of the book. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the device taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the clamp taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a section through the clamp taken on the line 77 of Fig. 4.

Referring to these drawings wherein like parts are designated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views, 10 designates the back or support for the sheets of music or books, and is provided at its lower edge with an outstanding ledge or shelf 11, adapted to receive the lower edges of the sheets or books. 12 designates an ad justable ledge provided preferably near its opposite ends with inwardly projecting pins 13 for engagement in any pair of the series of openings 14 in the back 10 near the opposite edges thereof, as shown to advantage in Figs. 1 and 5.

It is of course understood that the back 10 may be given any suitable or fanciful configuration so as to present a neat and pleasing appearance. The upper corners of the back 10 are each provided with a clip 15, the same comprising, as shown in Fig. 3, a length of wire hinged upon a pin 16 extending from the lateral edge of the back 10, and being supported at its outer end by a strap 17 secured to the lateral edge of the back 10. Surrounding the pin 16 is a spring 18 having one end thereof secured to the back 10 in any suitable manner, while the outer or free end of the spring is secured to the clip 15 for the pur ose of normally urging the clip forwardly into the position shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. As will be noted from Figs. 1 and 3 particularly, the clip 15 projects downwardly against the outer face of the back 10 and is adapted to bear against a music sheet or book and hold the same firmly against the back 10.

The back 10 is provided at its upper end with a number of clamps 19. Each clamp 19 comprises a pair of flat elongated plates hinged together at their upper ends upon a rod 520, the rod 20 being returned upon itself at the outer end of the clamp, as shown in Fig. 1, and extending backwardly and being secured to the lower edge of the rearmost plate 21 of the clamp. The rod 20 extends inwardly a slight distance beyond the clamp 19, and has its free ends overturned or rolled to provide eyes for the reception of a pintle 22 carried vertically between a pair of spaced ears 23 outstanding from the upper portion of the back 10. In the drawings, two such clamps are disclosed although it is to be understood that any desired number of clamps may be employed to adapt the device to various uses. The rods 20 of the clamps are so offset or disposed with respect to the pintle 22, that the pintle supports all of the clamps. Surrounding the pintle 22 is a spring 24 having one end bearing against the outer side of the back 10 and having its opposite end secured to the rod 20 for the purpose of normally urging the clamp to swing from its normal position at the right, as shown in Fig. 1, over to the left, as shown in Fig. it. A. second spring 25 is disclosed as seated in the outer face of the back 10 and encircling a supporting pin 26. One end of the spring 25 bears against the outer face of the back 10, as shown in Fig. 1, while its opposite end 27 extends upwardly and is secured to the rod 20 of the second or normally innermost clamp. The opposite plates 19 and 21 of the clamp are held in closed position for close contact with each other, as shown in Fig. 7, by one or more coil springs which encircle the rod 20, the springs having their opposite ends bearing against the outer faces of the respective plates. Ears 29 extend upwardly from the middle portion of the clamp and constitute continuations of the opposite plates, and are diverged upwardly so as to separate the plates when the ears are pressed toward one another by the hand.

Each clamp 19 is provided with a leaf turning finger 30, hinged preferably to the inner end of the clamp, and adapted to be swung down from the clamp into the posi tion shown in Fig. 4:, for engagement against the back of a leaf to be turned. A separating finger 31 is hinged preferably to the outer end of the clamp 19 and is adapted for engagement against the outer face of the leaf to be turned in order to hold the leaf from sticking to or folding up the next adjacent outer leaf when the latter is turned by the outermost clamp. This position of the fingers 30 and 31 is shown to advantage in Fig. 4E.

The back 10 is provided preferably at a point near its middle portion with a number of latch rods 32, the same corresponding in number to the number of clamps hinged upon the back. The lower ends of the latch rods are hinged to a corresponding number of key levers 33 pivotally mounted in the ledge 11. Each key-lever 33 is provided upon its outer end with a hinged key 3-4; projecting outwardly in the plane of the ledge 11 for engagement with the finger. The keys 34- are adapted to swing about their pivotal connection with the key levers whereby the keys may he swung up into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 when it is desired to pack the device into relatively small space for shipment or for carrying about. The key levers 33 are provided at their outer ends with shoulders 35 adapted to receive the keys 34 when the same are swung down into operative position so as to transmit pressure exerted upon the keys to the key levers. The upper ends of the latch rods 32 are each arched forwardly clamps.

over the upper edge of the back 10 and have their down-turned extremities beveled at their outer sides to provide latches 36 for engaging and snapping over the upper lengths of the rods 20 of the respective For the purpose of holding the latches normally in depressed position the ledge 11 is provided with springs 37, urging the key-levers 33 downward at their rear ends, whereby to normally depress the latch rods 32.

In operation the back 10 is placed upon the music rack 11 of a piano, as shown in Fig. 5. Of course it is understood that the back 10 may be supported upon a stand or any other suitable means. The sheet music, which usually consists of one-fold and a separate leaf therein, is placed in open position upon the back 10, the upper corners of the folded sheet are engaged beneath the clips 15 while the loose sheet is engaged in the outermost clamp. It will be noted that it is not essential to exercise care in positioning the music sheet with its fold line immediately at the center of the back, nor is it essential to register the inner edge of the loose sheet with the center of the back.

N hen it is desired to turn over the loose leaf, the operator presses down upon the fir t key-lever which moves the corresponding latch rod 32 upward against the tension of the spring 37 and raises the corresponding latch 36 out of engagement with the first clamp. The spring 24 now urges the clamp 19 around the pintle 22 from the right side of the device to the left side, thus turning the sheet over and at the sa metime supporting it. When it is desired to turn over the rear half of the folded sheet of music the fingers 30 and 31 of the second clamp are turned down for engagement with the opposite sides of the rear-fold of the music sheet. When it is desired to turn over the rear fold, the second key lever 34: is depressed whereupon the corresponding latch is raised from the second clamp and the latter swings the rear-fold over on its fold line.

/Vhen it is desired to place a music book upon the rack the same is opened and the halves thereof are engaged beneath. the opposite corner clips 15, the fingers 30 and 31 are turned down from the respective clamps and engaged against the'opposite sides of the adjacent leaves to be turned over. As above described, when it is desired to turn over these leaves the respective levers are pressed to release the latches and admit of the turning of the clamps under the action of the springs 24 and 25. It is thus seen that the device is applicable not only to sheet or loose leaf music but that it also may be advantageously used in connection with bound sheet music.

It is of course understood that the back 10 may be a separate board or support, as

below the section 11.

shown in the drawings, or it may comprise the music rack or a part of the case of a piano, in which latter construction the leaf turner would be built in the case of the piano. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 when the back 10 comprises a separate support or section which merely rests upon the usual music rack of the piano, it is found advantageous to make the back 10 in two sections, a left-hand section and a right hand section.

In order to accommodate the mechanism of the leaf turner of this invention the righthand section is made the larger of the two sections and carries the operating mechanism. The two sections are shown as connected together by hinges 10 which admit of the folding over of the sections to reduce the width of the device when it is to be carried or shipped. It is, of course, understood that any other suitable connecting means may be utilized for the purpose of securing the two back sections together provided that the sections may be folded one upon the other.

The back sections may be held in extended position by their weight when placed upon the ordinary music rack of the piano, or they may be provided with any suitable fastening means for retaining the sections extended. One form of fastening means is disclosed to advantage in Fig. 1 wherein the smaller or swinging section of the back 10 is provided at its lower corner with a spring catch 10 adapted for engagement in a notch formed in. the extremity of the left-hand section of the ledge 11. The ledge 11 comprises the sections 11 and 11 which have their inner ends connected together by a' hinge ll at the folding line of the back 10. The hinge 11 is secured to the undersides of the sections 11 and 11, and the section 11 is fixed upon the lower end of one of the sections of the back 10, which construction admits of the swinging of the section 11 For the purpose of retaining the swinging section of the back 10 in folded position the swinging section is provided with a second catch 10 located preferably midway between the top and bottom edges of the section, the catch 10 projects backwardly from the edge of the section and registers with an opening 10 formed in the right hand or base section of the back, through which the catch 10 pro- ]ects. The shoulder of the catch 10 is adapted to spring over the edge around the opening 10 to thereby retain the back sections folded.

The back 10 and rail 11 are provided at suitable points with elastic pads or feet 40 for contact with the piano casing upon which the improved rack is adapted to rest.

What is claimed is,-

1. In a music leaf turner, the combination with a back, of horizontally arranged leaf turning members, laterally projecting fingers secured to the inner ends of the leaf turning members adapted to engage the backs of music leaves and propel same upon the turnng of said members, and laterally projectlng fingers secured to the outer ends of the leaf turning members adapted to engage the fronts of the music leaves and retain same in position upon the turning of the next preceding leaf.

2. In a music leaf turner, in combination With a back adapted to support abook, a set of leaf turning members, pintles on the back for supporting the members, torsional springs on the respective pintles for turning the members, depending fingers pivotally secured to the leaf turning members for engagement with the opposite sides of leaves of music books, latch rods having U- shaped upper ends located at the rear of the back for engagement with the leaf turning members, pivoted inverted channel members to which the lower ends of the latch rods are secured, torsional springs mounted on the axes of the inverted channel members adapted to normally hold said latch rods in looking position, keys hinged on the inverted channel members and adapted to be folded up thereon and shoulders on the channel members adapted to support the keys when extended.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN P. SAUERWALD.

Witnesses:

M. J. KELLY, LoUIs B. SAUERWALD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

